Minister Izzidine in favor of a women's quota and newly appointed Minister for Women gets ready for action

A just women representation quota has become unavoidable after women have proved their aptness in all sectors of life, tweeted Inaya Izzidine, the only woman minister of state for administrative development in a 30-minister cabinet. Amal Movement, Izzidine said, supports the quota demand and will seek to mobilise others to approve it. “We hoped to see more women in the new government, yet, we, in Amal Movement, have smashed that glass ceiling and hope that other political parties act the same” ,” Izzidine said. In the same vein, Al Akhbar newspaper highlighted in a special feature the continuing marginalization of women in the newly formed cabinet, criticizing the abstention of political parties, except for Amal and Hizbullah, from nominating women ministers. The newspaper, while alluding to the Future Movement, describing it as the pragmatic, and to the Socialist Progressive Party with its “enlightened and educated” head, as well as to the main Christian parties, asked “if there were educated and intellectual women amongst them, and if there are, where are they.” On the other hand, L’Orient Le Jour newspaper published today an interview with the newly appointed minister for women’s affairs, Jean Ogassapian, who confirmed that the new portfolio is a real challenge. He acknowledged the hegemony of the patriarchal mentality in society, while reiterating his intention to follow up on women’s issues aided by a specialized and dedicated team he plans to set up. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, L’Orient Le Jour, December 22, 2016)